Court OKs DoJ’s Merger Clearance for Thales and Gemalto

“The companies say that together with the antitrust and foreign investment clearances they have received from authorities in Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and Turkey, as well as the CFIUS, they now have 12 of the 14 regulatory approvals needed for their merger.”

Only two more regulatory clearances are needed for Thales to proceed with its acquisition of Gemalto.

US antitrust authorities had signaled their approval for the merger on March 1st, with the DoJ stipulating that it would require court approval. Now, Thales and Gemalto have announced that they have received such approval, asserting in a statement that “the Stipulation and Order related to their agreement with the United States Department of Justice… has been entered by the court.”

The companies say that together with the antitrust and foreign investment clearances they have received from authorities in Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and Turkey, as well as the CFIUS, they now have 12 of the 14 regulatory approvals needed for their merger.

It’s an encouraging state of affairs for the companies after they were compelled to delay their merger last year in the wake of the European Commission’s announcement that it would launch an anti-trust investigation into the deal. Thales and Gemalto say they now expect the merger to close this month.